(1 comments) SHARE        Saturday, July 4, 2009
Torture on the 4th of July As a patriot who fought and sacrificed for our country, I ask all Americans to stand up for what is civil, humane and right. If we don't demand accountability for the crimes that were committed in our name, then we as a nation will have effectively institutionalized the torture of the last eight years. Let's keep the promise for ourselves and all humanity, the promise that is our United States of America. Phillip Butler (POW)

SHARE        Saturday, July 4, 2009
International Human Rights Committee Elects Rep. Aderholt (R-AL) to Serve as Vice-Chair Congressperson Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL) was elected Vice-Chair of the General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions. Rep. Aderholt's voting record is generally conservative and concerns are being raised that his ideological basis will be in conflict with a more progressive agenda advocated by many within the human rights community.

SHARE        Saturday, July 4, 2009
Honduras Coup Condemned by Human Rights Experts Calling for the immediate restoring of democracy in Honduras and the lifting of curbs on fundamental freedoms, today four independent United Nations human rights experts voiced serious concern over the situation in Honduras following last weekend's coup d'état.

SHARE        Friday, July 3, 2009
Iraq Called Upon to Remove Anti-Personnel Mines in the Region United Nations report calls upon Iraq for greater efforts to ensure a safe environment for the population and warning that the country may be unable to meet its obligations under an international treaty to rid the country of the deadly scourge of anti-personnel land mines.

SHARE        Friday, July 3, 2009
Ending Tensions Between Ghana and Gambia United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated that he welcomed the agreement reached by the Gambia and Ghana to end tensions that emerged after the deaths and disappearances of Ghanaian nationals on Gambian territory in 2005.

SHARE        Friday, July 3, 2009
Progress in West Africa Remains Fragile while West Africa has witnessed some positive trends recently, including the holding of peaceful elections, progress in the region remains fragile and faces a number of threats.

SHARE        Friday, July 3, 2009
United Nations Security Council Meeting on Afghanistan The United Nations Security Council is meeting today to address the Secretary-General's report of the on the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security.

(4 comments) SHARE        Thursday, July 2, 2009
Our Nation has a Great Deal to Learn from Phillip Butler about Morality, Law, and Torture United States Naval Academy graduate, 8 years POW, and Veterans for Peace member, Dr. Phillip Butler, said today that "civil liberties and human rights organizations around the country are calling for accountability for torture. I'm amazed and profoundly disappointed that this has apparently become necessary in our country."

SHARE        Thursday, July 2, 2009
"The Blood of Jesus Christ" will Protect the Return of Ousted Honduran President Ousted Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya declared today that he will return to his country on Thursday. He said that he does not fear for his life, because "the blood of Jesus Christ," his convictions and conduct during his entire life, as well as the Honduran masses who had taken to the streets, would protect him.

(2 comments) SHARE        Thursday, July 2, 2009
U.S. Commitment to Afghan Women United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues, Melanne Verveer, was asked by Secretary of State and Ambassador Holbrooke to go to Afghanistan to "reaffirm the United States's commitment to Afghan women and to underscore the President and Secretary's personal commitment to women's rights."

(1 comments) SHARE        Thursday, July 2, 2009
Pending Release of Human Rights Lawyer Emanuel Zeltser Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenka authorized the release of Emanuel Zeltser, reports U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairperson of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. While details are still pending, it appears that Mr. Zeltser to be released later this evening.

SHARE        Thursday, July 2, 2009
Darfur Peace Talks Ready to Resume A number of armed rebel movements in Darfur say they are ready to resume peace talks with the Sudanese Government, said an African Union-United Nations official tasked with promoting dialog between the two sides.

SHARE        Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Racial Profiling is Still Pervasive Widespread racial profiling by law enforcement agents as a result of Bush-era policies remains a pervasive problem throughout the United States.

SHARE        Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Departing United Nations Envoy Congratulates Iraq on Gains in Consolidating Democracy United Nations envoy to Iraq, Staffan de Mistura, congratulated Iraq's Government on strides made towards the consolidation of democracy and the restoration of sovereignty. "Iraq is celebrating today's withdrawal from its cities, towns and villages of the United States-led Multinational Forces in IRAQ," said Mr. de Mistura.

(1 comments) SHARE        Wednesday, July 1, 2009
United Nations General Assembly Condemns Coup in Honduras The United Nations General Assembly today condemned this weekend's coup d'état in Honduras, calling for the restoration of the democratically-elected President and constitutional Government.

SHARE        Sunday, June 28, 2009
The Battle of Solferino and the Genesis of International Humanitarian Law In a world where warfare and civil strife are a daily reality for millions, humanitarian organizations across the globe are gathering in Italy for the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the battle of Solferino, and honor the memory of Henri Dunant who first codified international standards on the conduct and methods of war.

(1 comments) SHARE        Sunday, June 28, 2009
Somalia Violence Claims the Lives of Hundreds Escalating violence and worsening displacement in the Somali capital, where local hospitals report that over 250 civilians have been killed and nearly 1,000 others wounded since fighting erupted last month in several parts of north-west Mogadishu between Government forces and the opposition Al-Shabaab and Hisb-ul-Islam.

(1 comments) SHARE        Sunday, June 28, 2009
United Nations Security Council: Evaluation of Decade-Long Progress in the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict The sorrow and brutality of war continues to be felt by untold millions of civilians trapped by conflict or forced into flight. In the last 10 years, protection of civilians in armed conflict had assumed a prominent place on the Council's agenda, as manifested by regular open debates, the Secretary-General's periodic reports and the four thematic Council resolutions on the protection of civilians.

(3 comments) SHARE        Sunday, June 28, 2009
President Obama Must Address Colombian Human Rights Violations President Barack Obama must place human rights at the top of his agenda when meeting this Monday with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. The meeting provides an opportunity for President Obama to show that human rights issues are important for US allies and adversaries.

SHARE        Sunday, June 28, 2009
Milan Martić Transferred to Estonia to Serve Sentence for War Crimes Milan Martić, the former wartime political leader of Croatian Serbs, was transferred today to Estonia to serve his 35-year sentence for crimes committed against Croats and other non-Serbs in Croatia between 1991 to 1994.